Max Mosley Backtracks on Deal

Max Mosley has now backtracked on his plans to step down as FIA President, in light of recent comments from members of FOTA.

Mosley sent a letter to Luca Di Montezemolo, declaring that he was unhappy and quite angry at the recent comments, which have misled the media, as well as declare victory for FOTA.

The letter, posted on racefax.com and seen by The F1 Times, declares that Mosley will now keep his options open come October, when he stated he would step down earlier this week.

"Given your and FOTA's deliberate attempt to mislead the media, I now consider my options open," wrote Mosley in the letter. "At least until October, I am president of the FIA with the full authority of that office.

"After that it is the FIA member clubs, not you or FOTA, who will decide on the future leadership of the FIA."

Something Mosley is clearly furious about is the claim that Michel Boeri, FIA Senate President, will take control of F1 and that Mosley has been forced out of office, with no future role to play within the FIA come October.

"We made a deal yesterday in Paris to end the recent difficulties in Formula 1," explained Mosley. "A fundamental part of this was that we would both present a positive and truthful account to the media.

"I was therefore astonished to learn that FOTA has been briefing the press that Mr. Boeri has taken charge of Formula 1, something which you know is completely untrue; that I had been forced out of office, also false; and, apparently, that I would have no role in the FIA after October, something which is plain nonsense, if only because of the FIA statutes.

"Furthermore, you have suggested to the media that I was a 'dictator', an accusation which is grossly insulting to the 26 members of the World Motor Sport Council who have discussed and voted all the rules and procedures of Formula 1 since the 1980s, not to mention the representatives of the FIA's 122 countries who have democratically endorsed everything I and my World Motor Sport Council colleagues have done during the last 18 years."

Mosley has been looking for some sort of apology, which addresses his quarrels. However, this hasn't yet materialised and could see the break down of the current deal—which stopped the threat of a breakway.

"If you wish the agreement we made to have any chance of survival, you and FOTA must immediately rectify your actions. You must correct the false statements which have been made and make no further such statements.

"You yourself must issue a suitable correction and apology at your press conference this afternoon.

"Formula 1 is run entirely by our 25-strong team without any help from me or any other outsider. There was no need for me to involve myself further in Formula 1 once we had a settlement. Equally, I had a long-standing plan not to seek re-election in October. It was therefore possible for me to confirm both points to you yesterday."